Discover Fiordland National Park in NZ's South Island

The Fiordland National Park on the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island is home to a labyrinth of waterways weaving through granite peaks and snow-capped summits. This natural phenomenon is a masterpiece 100,000 years in the making, and a highlight of many New Zealand tours.

With vegetation spilling from the rocky outcrops and waterfalls cascading over the towering ridges, this World Heritage Area is one for the bucket list. So how will you tick it off?

Most tours of the South Island will encompass this stunning region, while many New Zealand tours covering both islands also offer a visit to one of the renowned sounds. Now the kicker… which do you choose?

Milford Sound

Many travellers have heard of this jewel of the Fiordland, and it is expected that by 2019 Milford Sound will welcome over a million annual visitors. The only fiord in New Zealand accessible by road, Milford Sound’s popularity is unrivalled, and it has certainly earned its reputation.

Described by Rudyard Kipling as the ‘eighth wonder of the world’, the vastness of Milford Sound means it retains its sense of calm while the sights electrify. Sprawled below the 1692m-high Mitre Peak, Milford Sound winds approximately 16 kilometers to the Tasman Sea.

One of the wettest places in the world, rain doesn’t dampen the experience. Instead, it feeds gushing waterfalls and is the catalyst for the lush flora that coats the cliff faces. The journey to the sound itself, along Milford Road, is a spectacle in its own right. With mountainous passes and panoramic views, the journey builds anticipation for the wonder that awaits on the other side.

You can explore this dramatic landscape in a day on many tours or stay overnight to explore a little more. To get the most out of your visit, Inspiring Journeys offer a rare two-night stay on their 12 Day Southern Drift, or 22 day journey of The Long White Cloud.

Doubtful Sound

The lesser known but equally stunning Doubtful Sound sometimes has people, well, a little doubtful. That is, until they visit! Doubtful Sound is the deepest of the New Zealand fiords, with intense blue waters plummeting 421 meters into the abyss. It stretches 40 kilometers and is rich with deep green foliage hugging the looming pillars.

More remote than Milford, Doubtful Sound tends to be less visited. There is no direct road access. Doubtful Sound is reached by a cruise across Lake Manapouri and a drive over Wilmot Pass. Your tour will have all bases covered to get you to this isolated treasure.

The seclusion of Doubtful Sound adds to the tranquillity and it has been labelled as the ‘Sound of Silence’. Soak up the serenity as you cruise past glistening curtains of water that spill down the rockfaces into indigo pools. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, the pristine waters are home to bottlenose dolphins, penguins and fur seals.

More New Zealand tour itineraries are now choosing to visit Doubtful Sound. Take a trip that stops by for a day, or for a more immersive visit choose an itinerary with an overnight cruise, like Kirra’s Southern Encounter.

If visiting just one sound isn’t enough, why not do both? Grand Pacific offer a 23 Day Best of New Zealand tour that includes the luxury of sailing through the towering cliffs of Milford, Doubtful, and Dusky Sounds. Whichever tour you choose, a visit to the sounds of the Fiordland National Park will be a journey to remember.